Tomas Estrada Palma

Tomas Estrada Palma (9 July 1835-4 November 1908) was President of Cuba from 20 May 1902 to 28 September 1906, preceding Jose Miguel Gomez. He was the first president of an independent Cuba, and he supported the Platt Amendment, which ensured American political and economic dominance over Cuba; his fradulent re-election in 1906 led to his resignation and a second US military occupation from 1906 to 1909.

Biography
Tomas Estrada Palma was born in Bayamo, Cuba in 1835, and he worked as an administrator and local teacher in Bayamo before going on to teach in Honduras and in Orange County, New York. He became President of the Cuban Republic in Arms during the Ten Years' War, and he was captured by Spanish troops and sent into exile in New York City, where he worked with Jose Marti to gather political support for a revolution in Cuba. After Marti's death, Estrada became the new leader of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, and he secured US support for the Cubans during the Spanish-American War. In 1901, as the only candidate in the Cuban presidential election, he was elected as independent Cuba's first president, and he improved Cuba's infrastructure, communication, and public health. He also allowed for the Platt Amendment to be enacted, ensuring American political and economic dominance over Cuba. In 1905, he was fradulently re-elected unopposed, leading to violent opposition from the liberals. Estrada appealed for US intervention, and a second US military occupation lasted from 1906 to 1909, when Jose Miguel Gomez became President.